Anti Discriminatory Statement

SERICC’s empowerment ethos is informed by our understanding of sexual violence and abuse as both a cause and a consequence of inequality between the sexes and our recognition of the disproportionate impact this has on women and girls. Our holistic, wrap-around services are open to all eligible survivors of any form of sexual violence and abuse, and their supporters, and the services we offer will continue to be shaped by the recognition that patriarchy and misogyny damage all but the most powerful in society. In house and external training and peer support amongst colleagues all help staff members and trustees develop strategies for highlighting facts when faced with sexual violence and abuse myths. SERICC will challenge victim blaming attitudes which make survivors’ lives more complex and difficult.

As a charity SERICC promotes equality as a core value. SERICC have worked from this perspective for four decades, developing a strong record of accomplishment in frontline service delivery, research, policy, and partnerships. SERICC focus on delivering specialist sexual violence and abuse services from a feminist framework by acknowledging and addressing the multifaceted layers of discrimination that impact women and girls' experiences.

This approach recognises that various intersecting identities such as class, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation significantly shape how women and girls experience sexual abuse and sexual violence.

SERICC offers specialist services that consider these intersections, providing survivor-centred services that are sensitive to diverse local contexts and barriers faced by those who are marginalised in our local communities. Additionally, it involves institutional advocacy efforts aimed at challenging systemic inequalities and power structures that fail to recognise the impact of sexual violence against women and girls. By integrating a focus on prevention, trauma informed services and systemic change within a human rights / women’s rights framework.

SERICC aims to create safer, more inclusive spaces for local women and girls who have been subjected to rape as a child or adult, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sexual domestic violence, and all other forms of sexual violence.

SERICC’s very existence is due to the awareness of the multiple layers of vulnerability these interconnections lead to for sexual violence survivors. Service provision reflects our understanding that these vulnerabilities increase for those who are marginalised or minoritised. Information from our data and insights confirms that our service users are disproportionately made up of marginalised and minoritised survivors, and the way we deliver services is shaped by this.

SERICC’s long presence and activism within our local communities has helped raise awareness of these issues and furnished us with experience and evidence which is useful in inducting staff and trustees and shaping service provision.

For further information please click here /userfiles/AntidiscriminatoryStatement.pdf